Another great, self contained story - with David Tennant on form as Tycho.

Some nice ideas here, and links to modern tech ideas like the Hyperloop - good to see these being used.

Whilst the episode worked well it did show up some of the limitations that have occured in other stories: Specifically the lack of any decent size "module" vehicles results in TB-4.2 being the only thing available that can carry all the people in the "car". With the consequence that the engines are suddenly able to act as retro-rockets.

The other issue is that the track is supposed ot be a vacuum tunnel - but Scott is able to get in and out of the car without decompressing it, even though there is clearly no room for any sort of air-lock.

We then have TB-2.2 doing it's "scooping things up in mid-air" trick again - it's been used a bit too often in recent episodes, why not just catch TB-4.2 with the magnetic grabs?

That said - it's an enjoyable episode, helped by the enthusiastic Tycho character - who is entertaining but not annoying (like other recent episodes this is a great step forward from the idiotic "guest" characters that spoiled a lot of Series 1).

The reporter is also suitably funny without being irritating.

Happy to watch this one again.

[Only other minor question: Where did the track actually go - they were supposed to be going from Tokyo to London - having missed the stop there was then a comment later on about being near the "Sea of Japan, which implied they were nearly back where they started, then we had scenes that seemed to be mid-west America. We also had both the extra pod with Scott, and then later on TB-4.2 being put into the system apparently in London to match when the original pod was coming past again. Did they really go all the way round the world at least once?..........]

When I first learned David Tennant was going to be in Thunderbirds I was delighted. But I also had reservations. Not about him, he has been a Voice Artist as long as he has been an actor as was in Big Finish's Dr Who audios long before he WAS Dr Who. No, I was worried what kind of character he would be given to play. So I was pleasantly surprised that Tycho Reeves is another boffin who falls into the Professor Moffat or Professor Questa mould!
Mr Tennant is clearly enjoying himself in the character and brings a wonderful mix of joy, enthusiasm and genuine sorrow to the role. Reeves's acceptance that a simple mistake he made has caused the trouble, and that he takes full account of it – is a joy to witness. The interaction between Reeves and the other characters works too – not just Brains and Scott, but the Murakami family as well. Another character to add to the “please come back, we'd love to see you again!” list.

It was also a nice touch that Grandpa Murakami is the techno speed freak, and Granddaughter Keiko has queasy doubts about the wonders of modern fast travel. A nice change of pace, and one that brings a nice bit of humour to proceedings.

The Hyperloop System itself though had me laughing my head off. I have a relative who is mad on railways and they have always dismissed TOS monorail system as “...the infrastructure is far too complicated. Its less flexible and highly impractical compared to conventional railways.” I was reminded of this criticism here, because the Hyperloop has a whole host of awkward impracticalities about it. Of course that had to be the case to make the story function, but the way these issues are raised and dealt with is not satisfying.
It is especially disappointing that one idea that is nixed from the outset - the puncturing the tube over open sea to reach the speeding train capsule on water, is not used for the conclusion. Far more realistic than having Thunderbird 2.2 do its unrealistic kangaroo pouch module scoop manoeuvre to retrieve a dive bombing Thunderbird 4.2. It would also mean that Thunderbird 4.2 would not have been outside its native environment yet again.
It makes it all the more annoying and in this case crushingly disappointing, when they do this sort of thing to fudge the ending of the story. Here it was unnecessary because they had already considered an option that would have made more sense! The fact even Gordon thinks the plan of action is a bad idea speaks volumes.

In the end Hyperspeed is a traditional Runaway Train type story that makes excellent use of the cast, and introduces us to great characters that we immediately care about, but the resolution of the crisis undermines the overall credibility of the story. Damned shame.

Plus Points:
David Tennant sparkles as Tycho Reeves. The character is a delight to watch and listen to.
The Murakami family are a pleasing variation of the Williams or Sutherland families from Extract ion and City Under The Sea..
The fact the crisis is caused by simple human error. No evil schemes or banal stupidity.
Mini M.A.X. Is a nice add on, - spin off technology that works in context.

Iffy Elements:
The dismissal of a water rescue, when the ending shows it would have been more practical, and believable.
Some of the Hypertrain's impractical design problems seems a bit obvious.

Iffy to Excruciating Elements:
Thunderbird 2.2's “Kangaroo pouch” Module manoeuvre, to grab the nosediving Thunderbird 4.2.
Thunderbird 4.2 again the square peg vehicle wedged into a round hole. Or tube in this case.

Possible References:

TOS:
The design flaw Runaway Train plot echoes Brink of Disaster.

Others:
The “Pipleline Bomb railcar” scenes from James Bond, The World Is Not Enough. (1999)

The Land Of The Rising Sun:
Toshi when first seeing TB1.2 identifies her as “Thunderbird 1,” rather than saying “Its International Rescue!” His excitement at the prospect of travelling in Thunderbird 1.2 at the end of the story is palpable too. This could be a subtle, yet lovely salute to Japanese Fandom, which through literature and merchandising over the decades almost borders on reverence to the Gerry & Sylvia Anderson series, with TOS at the front. - Quite right too!

Questions:
How DID such a corker of an error get missed at the programme in stage?
Is there a network to the Hyperlink, or is it a giant ring tube around the planet?

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